The details are given of an experimental study of the growth process of aligned Cu2S nanowire arrays by a gas-solid reaction and by using an anodic-aluminum-oxide (AAO) template. It was found that the template played an important role in controlling growth with good alignment. X-ray diffraction and scanning-electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to characterize the nanowire arrays. The nanowire arrays had similar diameters (about 100 nm) and heights (about 1 mum). Their electron-field-emission characteristics were also measured. A turn-on field of 2.2 V/mum (for an emission-current density of 10 muA/cm(2)) and a threshold field of 8 V/ mum (for an emission-current density of 10 mA/cm(2)) were observed, respectively. (C) 2004 American Vacuum Society.